Table of contents for 21 April 2021 in MCN

‘It just keeps on pulling and won’t run out of puff’MCN’S NEEVESY ON THE NEW RS NEW BIKE TESTS Speed Triple RS ready to challenge From the moment the keyless ignition comes to life and the dash welcomes you on board, swiftly followed by the crisp bark of the bonkers new inline triple sucking air and fuel into an explosive mix of thrill-seeking hedonism, to the way every part of the new RS feels superbly refined – you know you’re about to experience something special. Welcome to the new Speed Triple 1200 RS. FIRST TEST PAGE 32 TOP STORY MV Agusta ride out of the crisis The backstory of MV Agusta is a turbulent one – but ever since ownership passed into the control of Timur Sardarov there’s been a…

Arai’s new sports touring helmet is the first, and so far the only, helmet to pass the rigorous new ECE22.06 standard. The test was introduced last year and significantly raises the bar compared to the old standard. The outgoing ECE22.05 test required dropping the helmet against a flat anvil at a set speed (7.5m/s) and measuring the impact with six sensors. The new test requires a test at 7.5m/s, 8.2m/s, 6m/s and an oblique blow on a 45 degree anvil at 8m/s to measure rotational forces. There are also 12 sensors across the helmet to get a greater impression of various impact points. Arai have had to design the new helmet from the ground up, including a new multi-density single piece EPS liner for improved impact absorption. The results are…

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and Fire and Rescue Services across the country are holding a motorcycle safety campaign this spring. Think Bike Week is aimed at motorcyclists nationally and will highlight key safety messages, including the importance of bike maintenance and the wearing of appropriate riding kit. Riders will also be encouraged to ‘brush up’ their riding skills at a time when many will be returning to riding after a significant break. The campaign will run from April 23-May 3. Covid restrictions allowing, representatives from fire and rescue services will visit local motorcycle dealers, accessory retailers and meeting places to engage with riders. Tony Crook, NFCC Lead for Road Safety, said: “With increasing numbers of people taking to two wheels, our aim is to encourage riders to do…

SATURDAY April 24 1pm, EUR2, EWC All Access – An all access look into the 2021 FIM Endurance World Championship SUNDAY April 25 5.15pm, EUR2, World Superbikes: Monza 2008 MONDAY April 26 8.15am, BTS2, FIM CEV Repsol from Portugal 3pm, QUEST, World’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides: The Start of the Balkans Adventure KEY TO CHANNELS: DRT – DISCOVERY REAL TIME DSC – DISCOVERY CHANNEL DHD – DISCOVERY CHANNEL HD EXS – EXTREME SPORTS CHANNEL EUR1 (2, HD) – EUROSPORT 1 (2, HD) MOT – MOTORSPORT.TV CH4 – CHANNEL 4 CH5 – CHANNEL FIVE BBC BBCI – BBC INTERACTIVE ESPN – ESPN CLASSIC CHANNEL ITV DST – DISCOVERY TURBO SHED – DISCOVERY SHED INST – INSIGHT SS1 (2, 3 OR X) – SKY SPORTS 1 (2, 3 OR EXTRA) QUEST BTS1 – BT…

Q ‘Am I going to face a court?’ I have been summonsed for driving without due care and attention. I was on a 30mph road overtaking a line of stationary cars waiting for a red light when a car a few back from the lights suddenly swung out in front of me and I collided with the front wing. I have a witness who said I was not speeding. The car driver has admitted liability in the insurance claim. What can I do as my claim solicitor says he can’t help? Helena P, email A Driving without due care and attention, otherwise known as careless driving, is when the standard of driving is deemed to fall below the level expected of a reasonably prudent driver. This is as opposed to…

BOL D’OR RECORD Steve’s 1999 lap record still stands as the Paul Ricard circuit has changed its configuration at the end of the year. “That ride got me into BSB,” he remembers. FASTEST NEWCOMER Steve’s 125.808mph lap in the 2007 TT stood as the fastest newcomer until 2013 when Josh Brookes upped it to 127.726mph. “I wasn’t sure I’d like the TT as it wasn’t elbows-out, it was a time trial,” says Steve. 2009 SENIOR TT WIN In just his third TT event, Steve took victory in the Senior: “I decided to stop racing the TT after that, I’d achieved my goal.” His record for the Bungalow to Cronk-ny-Mona was only broken by Hicky in 2018. SUPERSPORT TITLE Steve was 2009 champ. “Supersport bikes are so much fun and I…

Triumph’s original 885cc, 1994 Speed Triple produced 98bhp and 60lb.ft, but now with a dash of Moto2 knowhow thrown into the mix, it’s powered by a liquid-cooled three- cylinder a superbike would be proud of. Capacity is up to 1160cc and the new engine is choc-full of slippery, lightweight parts. It makes 178bhp – up 30bhp on the outgoing 1050cc Speed Triple and 11lb.ft more torque (now 92lb. ft). The engine is 7kg lighter with its internals producing 12% less inertia. Bore and stroke are a racier, over-square 90 x 60.8mm (from 79 x 71.4mm) and Triumph’s power curves show slightly more power and torque below 4000rpm and around same in the midrange, before surging away at 6500rpm to the new 11,150rpm redline, 650rpm higher than before. A smoother new…

HARLEY McCABE Ag 12 Hero Marc Marquez Achievements Reigning Ohvale 110 champion 2021 Riding in Ohvale 160 Cup Having won the Ohvale 110 cup Harley was awarded an Ohvale 160 to race in 2021. “Last year was a good season and I won the championship. Being in the academy means a lot, more advice, more help and my own tools. My dream is to ride in MotoGP.” HUDSON KAI COOPER Age 9 Hero Marc Marquez Achievements 4th Junior SM 90 Bambino 2021 Competing in Junior SM 90 Bambino From getting a quad at the age of four, he progressed through karts, minimoto and trials before starting minibike racing. “I’m still a bit stiff on the bike and I haven’t got my knee down yet so I think the academy will…

GUEST TESTER The Pan America 1250 is Harley-Davidson’s first attempt in the adventure-touring segment – and it’s an impressive first attempt. Apart from a few minor flaws, the Special edition in particular is a good all-round adventure bike that pleases off-road and, more importantly, its thoroughly sporty character shines through on-road. And with innovative features like the Adaptive Ride Height System, it could also tempt riders intimidated by the usual suspects. It will give some of the class leaders a real run for their money. THE FACTS £15,500 H-D Pan America 1250 Special…

Arai RX-7V Race FIM £749.99 ‘Arai’s added an extra scoop of aero tech…’ Tested by Michael Neeves for nine months, 2000 miles Arai have been experimenting with aeros ever since scoops appeared on top of Schwantz and Doohan’s Gigas in 1990. They were only available to Arai racers to begin with until the RX-7 was released in 1996, in all its scoop-laden glory. Now the latest RX-7V has sprouted another plastic sculpture, this time designed to smooth airflow along the helmet and over the hump on the back of a rider’s leathers when they’re in a race tuck. It’s been used by Arai’s superstars for the past few years and now it’s available on the RX-7V Race FIM you can buy in the shops. The helmet itself is the same…

‘Bikes are only original the once…’ It’s very easy to get all hung up on originality when you get into classic. Passionate owners can want their bike to be the perfect example – even the indicator lenses and handlebar grips have to be cock-on, exactly as they were on the bike that they owned back in the day. Except that the bike they had years ago wouldn’t have been a spotless example. Chances are it wouldn’t have been standard either. Think back to the sports mopeds you and your mates raced to college on; the big Kawasaki Zeds and Suzuki GSs that stretched arms in the ’70s; all those LCs outside chippies. Standard? No – they had race exhausts, sculpted seats and crazy clip-on ’bars. They had parts swiped from…

When a Piaggio X10 maxi scooter came into Zenith’s workshops in east London with a ‘rear brake problem’ technician Bernie Roe thought it would be a straightforward fix. He was wrong. The bike had braided brake lines, but all was not as it should have been. Bernie told us: “The rear master cylinder was dry, so I decided to bleed it through. I was pumping it through manually, topping up the master cylinder, but all I was getting was cramp as no fluid was coming out of the back end. Then a colleague spotted an ocean of brake fluid dripping out from under the bike. “I started pulling the plastics off then and quickly found the problem. The replacement blingy brake line from the ABS motor to the rear brake…

MotoGP 2021 is a soap opera on speed. Who needs fiction, when fact sings with such sentiment and surprise? Business resumed in Portugal, with a tangled mass of plots and sub-plots, and a menacing underlying bass note of potential teenage tragedy – the latter from a growing chorus of concern for the dangers of ultra-close Moto3 racing, highlighted in last week’s MCN. The central drama was the return of the man Crutchlow nicknamed ‘The Cat’ (“because he always lands on his feet”). While he was away, the mice have been at play. So all eyes were on the progress of Marc Marquez. No pussycat, he, as he proved with an instant display of contempt for the laws of physics, third in the first free practice session, gaily flirting with disaster.…

SPORTS REPORTERS Marc Marquez bared his soul with an ‘explosion of emotions’ following his return to MotoGP after a nine-month injury absence. That rare public act of letting down his guard was a demonstration of what motorcycle racing and dancing on edge of pleasure and pain means to Marquez. Much more, in fact, than his heroic seventh place at Portimao. While lauding the impressive championship start by Fabio Quartararo, MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi observed: “Marc’s comeback is at the top level and he was very strong and for sure everybody has to take care of Marquez in the championship.” Euphoria and exhaustion overtook Marquez after he saw his first chequered flag in 518 days ( at Valencia in 2019). “It’s been a long time since I dreamed of finishing a…

Valentino Rossi’s dismal start to the year continued at Portimao with the nine-time champion crashing out of 11th place. Rossi lost the front heading into turn 11 whilst chasing down Alex Marquez. Rossi had found some improvements with the setting of his M1, particularly under braking and also with the hard rear tyre. The Italian said he felt more stable and a better feeling with the harder option. Praise for Marini Luca Marini enjoyed the best weekend of his burgeoning MotoGP career in 12th spot and received indirect praise from big brother Valentino Rossi and Danilo Petrucci. Both riders admitted that it was difficult to overtake Marini; a promising comment for a rider only in his third premier class race. Marini also made it into Q2. The Sunday man Enea…

The all-new Monster is ready and waiting for you at your local Ducati dealership to take a demo and experience everything you need to have fun every day. With restrictions now lifting there are more reasons than ever to embrace your freedom and head to your local showroom. The newest Monster Lightweight, compact, and agile with a sleek, sharp fresh look, the Monster is perfect for riders of all levels. It can be ordered in an A2 licence compliant version for younger or less experienced riders, has a low seat height for added confidence and, for those who are itching to get back on the circuits this summer, the 111bhp version can be thrown around a track with consummate ease. MCN tested the reworked Ducati last month and found that…

The all-new Monster is ready and waiting for you at your local Ducati dealership to take a demo and experience everything you need to have fun every day. With restrictions now lifting there are more reasons than ever to embrace your freedom and head to your local showroom. The newest Monster Lightweight, compact, and agile with a sleek, sharp fresh look, the Monster is perfect for riders of all levels. It can be ordered in an A2 licence compliant version for younger or less experienced riders, has a low seat height for added confidence and, for those who are itching to get back on the circuits this summer, the 111bhp version can be thrown around a track with consummate ease. MCN tested the reworked Ducati last month and found that…

The all-new Monster is ready and waiting for you at your local Ducati dealership to take a demo and experience everything you need to have fun every day. With restrictions now lifting there are more reasons than ever to embrace your freedom and head to your local showroom. The newest Monster Lightweight, compact, and agile with a sleek, sharp fresh look, the Monster is perfect for riders of all levels. It can be ordered in an A2 licence compliant version for younger or less experienced riders, has a low seat height for added confidence and, for those who are itching to get back on the circuits this summer, the 111bhp version can be thrown around a track with consummate ease. MCN tested the reworked Ducati last month and found that…

A non-biking mate asked me at the weekend if we’re still finding enough to write about in these Covid-affected times. I had to laugh because this year has felt like all the buses (and Busas, p25) are arriving at the same time – regardless of what shape your bike passion takes. This week’s no different. Whether it’s Triumph’s bonkers new Speed Triple 1200 RS (p32) wading into the super-naked fray with a howling inline-triple exhaust note and enough stomp to unsettle your neck muscles for days, or the arrival of a seriously capable adventure bike from none other than Harley-Davidson (p40), every week seems to bring tides of new temptation. And if racing’s your thing, this year has already been a phenomenal rollercoaster – and we’ve barely even started. Talking…

Royal Enfield are bringing their flattrack ‘slide schools’ to the UK this year after partnering with multiple British champion Gary Birtwistle. Running under the Dirt Craft banner, Birtwistle will offer coaching to both complete novices and experienced racers alike. Attendees will ride on Enfield’s FT411s – customised Himalayans that have been modified for flattrack racing. As well as tutoring riders, Birtwistle will also compete in the new Twins class aboard his FT650, which was built for the American flattrack racing series. A day at the Dirt Craft school costs £160 per person. Details: www.dirtcraft.co.uk…

We’ve got together with Furygan to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a Furygan Apalaches jacket and trouser set worth £429.98 Perfect for riders looking for all-season textiles, the Apalaches is the result of intensive development by the Furygan team to design a versatile textile suit for all-year-round use, making them great for touring. The waterproof and breathable jacket features D3O protection at the elbow and shoulder areas, Furygan’s Air Flow System (AFS) and comes Airbag Connect ready. The jacket is equipped with pockets compatible with Furygan’s D3O back and chest protection and a useful nine pockets to hold all your daily essentials. The CE-approved Apalaches trousers are the perfect partner for the Apalaches jacket, featuring a connecting zip, abrasion-resistant textile, D30 hip and knee protection plus a…

SENIOR WRITER Tinkering members of MCN’s #ride5000miles campaign are venturing out onto the warmer springtime roads after a winter of modifying in the garage. From fresh suspension, to new pipes and even a whole new look, riders have used their Covid-enforced extra time indoors to rejuvenate their rides, ready to take on this year’s annual distance challenge. “It’s a hobby out of control,” joked Scott Brailey, from Weston-super-Mare. “I like biking, but I also like tinkering in the garage and learning about the mechanics of the bike.” Having picked up his 2018 Triumph Street Twin in March last year, he’s since added new silencers, fresh front springs, changed the shocks, swapped the tyres, upgraded the front disc and pads and sprinkled it with an array of optional extras. Only covering…

‘Four-valve Brick is just the trick’ A year ago, I mentioned that I was on the lookout for another BMW tourer, having decided to sell my K1600GTL, a decision I haven’t regretted. I actually bought a 6000 mile Ducati ST2 late last year in the expectation of doing some touring in 2021. Only it won’t be abroad. Never mind – I have some UK hotels lined up for the summer, at the end of some nice long runs. I’ve always been fond of the K-series fours, not least for their incredible longevity. You regularly see examples that have clocked over 100,000 miles and are still running happily. Nobody cares about miles on a Brick, it’s just digits on an odometer. The four-valve Bricks are relatively rare. The 1000cc two-valvers ran…

£16,499 2021 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa ● 1340cc inline four DOHC 16v ● 187.3bhp @ 9700rpm ● 264kg kerb weight From £5500 1999 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa ● 1298cc inline four DOHC 16v ● 175bhp @ 9800rpm ● 248kg kerb weight GUEST TESTER Great power requires great control and there is one motorcycle that has always demanded an unbelievable amount of restraint: Suzuki’s Hayabusa. Launched in 1999, the Busa was designed to go fast, very fast. Thanks to its unique styling, monster motor and ability to more than fulfil on its promise, the Busa soon became a cult bike, loved by speed-freaks the world over. And remarkably, considering the outcry it created, the Hayabusa has managed to outlast not only all its hyperbike rivals but also those in authority who attempted to…

GUEST TESTER There is an argument and, it has to be said, quite a valid one – that hyperbikes such as the Hayabusa are relics of a bygone era. Headline-grabbing speed figures require a number of specific features and it is these that make the Suzuki such a stand-out bike. Its aerodynamic look is unique, its stability at speed unmatched and above all, its engine is outstanding in how it delivers smooth and uninterrupted roll-on thrust in a way you only get through cubes and not forced induction. Everyone needs to expedience a Hayabusa at least once in their biking life. And the new one upholds the dynasty’s honour. Smoother, more refined and packing electronic assists, the new Busa is everything fans of the old model could have wished for.…

Triumph could’ve spoilt the Speed Triple 1200 RS by adding too much power in a quest to keep up with the super-naked Joneses, but they haven’t. Instead, they’ve produced a machine in their own inimitable style with a beautifully refined new engine that’s as friendly as a Street Triple’s, until you pull the pin and then it’ll keep up with the best of them. It has a voracious appetite for corners, too, although its suspension is too firm for the road and it’s finished more conservatively than flashier rivals, but it’s superbly built and equipped – and cheaper, too. THE FACTS £15,100 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS…

Times change, and those who want to sell new motorbikes have to adapt rapidly to what the market wants – which is particularly true for Harley-Davidson with their cruiser and tourer-heavy portfolio. But what’s surprising is the direction in which H-D are expanding. Anyone expecting a brutish naked (sadly the 1250 Custom project is ‘paused’) will be surprised that the all-new Pan America 1250 Special was chosen to come first. Harley are venturing into a highly competitive segment here – but riding their first serious foray into GS-land reveals an impressively well resolved bike that thankfully bears no resemblance to the failed Buell Ulysses which was released under H-D’s ownership. Quirky but high level As the first big adventure bike released directly under the Harley-Davidson banner, there were still bound…

1 Sealey MS063 Dolly £161.94 I bought this as I needed to be able turn the bike 180 degrees in my shed. You literally roll on and roll off. I park my 2015 Tiger 1200 on it and it is very manoeuvrable. Michael Pumfrey, Forres 2 SGS Heavy-Duty Chock £59.99 A handy thing to have at hand when also using a rear wheel stand or for locking your bike. Jon Ashley, Manchester 3 Oxford Premium paddock stands £79.99 (each) Easy to use and don’t take up too much space. Reasonable price too. Jim Mott, Liverpool 4 Tirox Snapjack V2 £59.99 I travel around 500 miles a week and use this for chain maintenance. It’s easy to use. Aubrey Carradice, Elgin 5 Abba Superbike stand £91.95 I use it for little…

Saving you money on essential bike maintenance 1 First take stock Fitting a new air-cleaner to an American V-twin like this Harley is more involved than just switching out the filter element on an inline four or changing the pod on a British twin, but the key principles to a successful job are the same. Everything starts with a thorough check that you’ve got the right bits for your model and year. 2 Everything off The outer cover is the first to come off, followed by the inner element. It’s good practice to have a look inside the element and the throttle body to make sure there are no signs of dirt ingress or oil. If you see either, it might be time to have a deeper look inside the…

SPORT REPORTER Sam Lowes has been brought back down to earth with an almighty bang after crashing out of the Portuguese Grand Prix at the very first corner. Mere seconds into a race in- which the Moto2 star would have been challenging for, at the very least, a podium, he suffered a dramatic corner-entry highside. The 30-year-old Brit had been forced to take avoiding action on the approach to turn one in order to avoid hitting title rival Remy Gardner and was thrown violently into the air before being hit by his Elf Marc VDS Racing machine as he slid through the gravel. The dream of three consecutive victories was over, just 24 hours after Lowes became the first British rider to take three straight Grand Prix poles since Barry…

April 10 Doctors give Marquez the green light to return. April 15 Marquez passes his medical at Portimao. In the press conference he admits that he has butterflies in his stomach. FP1 Marquez is third in the slower, damp conditions with a 1:42.378 (+0.251s). Completes 11 flying laps. FP2 Sixth in better conditions, only 0.473s off top spot. Completes 13 flying laps. FP3 As expected, after one day back and losing strength in his arm, Marquez drops to 15th (+0.901s). FP4 Improves to ninth (+0.409) Q1 Tops Q1 to make it through to Q2, thanks to a tow from Mir. Q2 Qualifies sixth but admits afterwards that his arm felt worse than Friday. Unsure about how it will cope with 25 laps. Sunday Warm-Up 19th after just five-minute on track…

Portimao provided the challenge required to test Yamaha’s 2021 machine and it seems that their work during the winter wasn’t in vain. However, it was Fabio Quartararo who made the difference, utilising his riding strengths of fast entry and high corner speed, commenting that once he has the front end working he can do the rest. We saw flashes of that speed last year, but mostly we witnessed a frustrated Fabio. He now has ‘his bike’ back; a better version with improved aero and engine performance. Yamaha’s top man in 2020, Franco Morbidelli, had a return to form in Portimao with his total race time over 25 laps just 0.078 of a second slower than the 2020 race time which saw him stand on the podium last November. This incredible…

‘Subtle’. That’s the best word to describe Yam’s twin. It doesn’t wow with power or whizzbang tech, nor does it have a headline attraction. But it’s truly superb. The engine gives relaxed yet effective drive, the steadfast chassis provides all-weather confidence, comfort and practicality are ace, while finish and reliability are from the drawer at the very top. And as it’s not got ‘GS’ on the side the Yam is a snip: 2014-on ZE models with electronic suspension and cruise go for around £7500. The 1199cc twin with its rumbling 270˚ crank runs forever, though there was a recall on 2015 models to swap the cam part of the gearshift mechanism. Things to look out for? Is it clean under the bodywork? There are two plugs per cylinder, and the…

‘Subtle’. That’s the best word to describe Yam’s twin. It doesn’t wow with power or whizzbang tech, nor does it have a headline attraction. But it’s truly superb. The engine gives relaxed yet effective drive, the steadfast chassis provides all-weather confidence, comfort and practicality are ace, while finish and reliability are from the drawer at the very top. And as it’s not got ‘GS’ on the side the Yam is a snip: 2014-on ZE models with electronic suspension and cruise go for around £7500. The 1199cc twin with its rumbling 270˚ crank runs forever, though there was a recall on 2015 models to swap the cam part of the gearshift mechanism. Things to look out for? Is it clean under the bodywork? There are two plugs per cylinder, and the…

‘Subtle’. That’s the best word to describe Yam’s twin. It doesn’t wow with power or whizzbang tech, nor does it have a headline attraction. But it’s truly superb. The engine gives relaxed yet effective drive, the steadfast chassis provides all-weather confidence, comfort and practicality are ace, while finish and reliability are from the drawer at the very top. And as it’s not got ‘GS’ on the side the Yam is a snip: 2014-on ZE models with electronic suspension and cruise go for around £7500. The 1199cc twin with its rumbling 270˚ crank runs forever, though there was a recall on 2015 models to swap the cam part of the gearshift mechanism. Things to look out for? Is it clean under the bodywork? There are two plugs per cylinder, and the…

SAVE £4000 £13,898 Triumph Tiger 1200 XCX The XCX is a rugged-looking adventure machine that’s excellent on the road and can handle light trails when you want to explore. This white Euro4 Tiger comes fully loaded with a set of Expedition luggage, plus inner bags, headlight protector, fork protector, tank pad and an Arrow silencer. ● www.puretriumph.co.uk SAVE £2603 £6496 Kawasaki W800 Café With more than £2600 stripped from the asking price, this 2019 Café looks like a steal. Classy style and a steady performer for sensible cash. ● www.mandp.com ● Engine 773cc ● Power 48bhp ● Weight 223kg ● Seat height 790mm SAVE £900 £5999 Kawasaki Ninja 650 This black parallel twin is available with 0% finance – on top of the £900 saving. ● www.colchesterkawasaki.co.uk ● Engine 649cc…

IAM Roadsmart will be resuming their track-based motorcycle skills sessions in 2021 at Thruxton, Croft and Mallory Park circuits. Participants are given the opportunity to discover what their bike is really capable of with expert tuition in a controlled environment. The bike skills days cost £149 and are a full day’s session. Head to www.iamroadsmart.com/skills-day to find out more or book your place. Bootiful colours TCX have a new colour for their flagship RT-Race Pro Air boots. The black/grey/red option uses a geometric pattern. Underneath, the boot is the same high-spec unit packed with safety features. The new colour option is available now and joins the existing black and black/ grey/fluo options in sizes EU 38-49 (UK 5-14) with an RRP of £299.99. It’s game on! A trailer for the…

Bull-It Tactical Kafe straight jeans £89.99 Casual clothing for seasonal rides With warmer and lighter evenings just around the corner (honest…) sometimes you want your riding kit to have a casual look and feel – while still doing the important job of providing protection should you need it. It’s this sector of the market we are looking at this week and there are plenty of reductions out there to help you spruce up for summer. Internet shopping giant SportsBikeShop have been stocking up on riding jeans and have gear on offer from Bull-it. Take these Tactical jeans, made from Covec denim, they have highly abrasion resistant and come fitted with CE-approved armour at the hip and knee. There’s a waterresistant, external coating, that will offer some defence if (when) you…

Lexmoto have introduced a new learner-friendly sportsbike to their 2021 range. The value brand’s new LXS 125 sits beside the recently updated LXR models, but uses a slightly more powerful single-cylinder engine producing 13.6bhp (the LXR makes 11.9bhp) and gets a six-speed gearbox, too. Along with this bump in power, the LXS is also a full 12kg lighter than the LXR, which should mean a noticeable performance improvement. Braking and suspension look very similar to the existing models with twin discs up front linked to a single rear, RWU telescopic forks and a monoshock – but the LXS’s 790mm seat height should be ever so slightly more manageable for beginners than the LXR’s 800mm perch. The LXS also uses a slightly narrower 140-section rear tyre. Away from performance, the new…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews Ducati are onto something I find it very interesting that Ducati don’t agree that we should all just roll over and accept being force-fed electric bikes when there are other alternative fuels being developed which will still give the flexibility and ease of use of traditional petrol in the form of LPG, hydrogen and bio fuels. Porsche have indicated that they wish to return to F1 so that they can develop clean synthetic fuels for everyday use without the harmful emissions. These would certainly be more suitable for motorcycles and still give us the sound and thrills that we all enjoy without range anxiety or waiting around for the bike to charge. Colin Humphries, Hampshire Synthetic is the future I was intrigued by the suggestion that…

I think this weekend opened Marquez up a little bit and proved that he is actually human. We all thought he was going to be straight on the pace, but he’d been away for 265 days and that’s just too long. Don’t get me wrong it was an epic performance, but he’s not super-human and it’s going to take time to get back to where he was. In some ways he was like his old self, backing it in and saving crashes. He’s just lacking fitness and he fatigued. But there’s no doubt that the magic is still there, the passion is still there and the grit is still there, but in the end it wasn’t quite the fairy tale return. ‘He was first Honda home… with one arm’ MotoGP…

Age 72 Height 6ft 0in Current bike 1999 Suzuki Hayabusa Been riding 35 years First bike Yamaha FZ750 Dream bike Ducati Panigale V4 SP “I bought my Busa back in 1999 and 120,000 miles later I still love it to bits. The Suzuki is such a good bike, way ahead of its time, and it is all down to that motor. When I bought it I did consider an R1 but as my wife likes to go on the back, I didn’t think she would appreciate the tiny seat. The Suzuki has a good pillion seat and the engine shrugs off any extra weight as it is just so strong and full of torque. When I ride solo with mates who have modern bikes the Busa never feels like it…

Although OE parts are always the best option when servicing, when it comes to improving the performance of your machine you should look to reputable aftermarket brands. Your bike’s stock filter will have been designed to provide the best balance of cleaning performance and air flow, but once they become clogged with debris they’ll reduce the air flow and start to degrade performance, and as many are paper based they cannot be cleaned so need to be replaced regularly. A quality aftermarket replacement will usually be made from oiled cotton gauze so can be cleaned to keep it performing at its best, and most brands will also sell you the specific products needed to keeping their filters serviced. For bikes without ram-air, some aftermarket air filters also feature a relocation…

Jorge Martin will undergo surgery in Barcelona this week following his huge crash at turn seven during FP3. The Pramac Ducati rider was taken to hospital with hand, foot and head contusions on Saturday morning. Martin will now undergo two operations: one on the metacarpus in his right hand and another on the medial malleolus of his right foot as he begins his fight back to race fitness. New test for Dovi Andrea Dovizioso will be buoyed by another impressive performance by Aprilia at Portimao. Following a successful three days in Jerez, the three-time MotoGP runner-up will jump back on the RS-GP for two days at Mugello on May 11-12. A second test will fuel rumours of a potential wildcard appearance for Dovi. Dani wildcard? Another former rider may in…

STATISTICS • Length 4.6 miles • Corners 0 – 6 left, 9 right • Longest straight 969 metres 16 Bradl 7 17 Nakagami 6 18 Marini 4 19 Rossi 420 Oliviera 4 21 Petrucci 3 22 Savadori 2 23 Lecuona 1 Fastest lap Pole lap Circuit record lap POSITIONS Gains & losses (grid v finish) FINAL POSITIONS MOTOGP LAPS LED TOP SIX MOTOGP FINAL POSITIONS MOTO 2 TOP TEN CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS 1 Gardner 56 2 Fernandez R 52 3 Lowes 50 4 Bezzecchi 36 5 Di Giannantonio 27 6 Canet 23 7 Roberts 23 8 Fernandez A 23 9 Vierge 16 10 Schrotter 14 FINAL POSITIONS MOTO 3 TOP TEN CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS 1 Acosta 70 2 Masia 39 3 Binder 36 4 Antonelli 36 5 Migno 29 6 Rodrigo 25 7 Sasaki 22 8…